Rebecca Wilson and Colin McDermott started their 2023 time trialling campaigns with a bang, securing victories at the Southborough and District Wheelers’ 10-mile event near Hamstreet in Kent.

Wilson, the 58-year-old from Hastings who rides for the Rye and District Wheelers, clocked 26-04 for the Q10/1 course near Hamstreet in Kent, finishing as the only women but just six seconds slower than her winning time from the same event two years ago – with the 2021 event being cancelled due to Covid.

Meanwhile Colin McDermott, 55 and riding for the Festival Road Club, covered the course in 21-17 to win by a comfortable 1-17 from Rye and District Wheelers’ Steve Gooch, while third place overall went to Thanet Road Club’s Paul Burrows who was 50 seconds further back.

Having won one open time trial throughout the whole of 2022, McDermott has now equalled that record, and he has 364 days left in which to improve on that mark.

The 2023 running of the Southborough and District Wheelers event was not quite as warm as the previous year, but it has been much worse in previous years and riders generally were pleased to lay down a benchmark for the rest of their season.

In other categories the fastest juvenile was 15-year-old Augustus Harris (Southborough and District Wheelers) who clocked 24-49 to place eighth overall, while the best on a road bike was third-placed Paul Burrows and the top trike was Adrian Hills (Eastbourne Rovers CC) in 39-18.

The Q10/1 course takes the riders from a start near Orlestone and up the A2070 alongside the Marshlink Line railway, before turning at the southern edges of Ashford and heading back down. But riders proceed beyond the start point, continuing round Hamstreet and turning off just after the Royal Military Canal to the finish.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

Results:

Men:

1. Colin McDermott (Festival Road Club)     21.17

2. Steve Gooch (Rye and Dist Wheelers)       22.34

3. Paul Burrows (Thanet RC) 23.24

4. Peter Main (34 Nomads CC)          23.45

5. Simon McNamara (Sigma Sports)  23.49

6. David Greenwood (Rye and Dist Wheelers)          24.05

7. Gary Sinclair (Southborough & Dist Wh)  24.31

8. Augustus Harris (Southborough & Dist Wh)         24.49

9. Andrew McLean (Rapha CC)         25.55

10. Jeremy Page (PB Cycle Coaching)           26.51

Women: Rebecca Wilson (Rye and Dist Wheelers)   26.04